“Blockchain”, a buzzworthy term that has made its way among technology newbies and gurus alike, building its name daily across industries. While it has been the talk of the town for some time now, what exactly is blockchain and how is it used in the the IT world? Additionally, how does a professional begin to work in this emerging technology sector? Fortunately, these are all questions with answers, but first, let’s start at the top - How is blockchain defined?

The end of the year was accompanied by an influx of excitement around the holidays. Employees were eager for this time to relax and recharge, and companies left feeling hopeful for the quarter ahead. While there was joy in the air, there was also immense pressure to close out current projects, as well as stress to bring in income before December 31 - And, with ever-changing programs and systems, these feelings were amplified for the IT teams across industries. Due to the anxious nature year-end can bring, the IT department’s morale was likely to decrease, taking productivity down with it. Now, after much needed time off, it is time to get back to the office - In hopes to keep spirits high, here are four ways to increase motivation at the start of 2019, entering the New Year with a bang!

When looking at a company, channels are often categorized by their generic job description - For example, the marketing team is in charge of the organization’s branding, finance is the management of numbers and IT is the oversight and maintenance of all computer networks. While these overarching explanation do stand true, many businesses are shifting responsibilities across departments in order to maximize functionality, and who manages the organization’s website is one of them.

As of 2017, the percentage of gig workers, also known as short-term contractors, increased to 31% from the previous 29% noted in 2015. At the end of 2017, roughly 126 million people in the United States were employed full-time, making 48 million of those individuals independent employees and generating $864 million in revenue. Simply put, the gig economy is rapidly growing throughout the nation and changing the operation and expectation of businesses and consumers alike.

End of Q4 in the world of Information Technology is an overwhelming time for multiple reasons - Holidays are approaching, employee travel is ramping up, and year-end projects are coming to a close. While this season can be exciting, it is undoubtedly stressful in the office, ultimately leading to low morale across teams. Here are 3 reasons why a decline of motivation sets in this time of year and how to overcome the year-end scaries, setting everyone up for success in the new year.